Sue Birch, chief executive officer of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, right, hands a cup to Seth White, 6, during an open house to celebrate Cole White, far left, moving on to a new position in Kremmling. White served almost three years as the organization’s director of operations and will use his accounting background as a chief financial officer at the Kremmling Memorial Hospital.

Cole White steps down from VNA

Chris Garcia, eligibility coordinator for the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, right, hands a goodbye card to Cole White during an open house celebration in his name Tuesday at the VNA.

Although a new job opportunity may have relocated him to Kremmling a few days a week, Cole White’s investment in the Moffat County community will not waver.

“I moved to Craig as much for the community as I did the job offer,” he said about moving his family to Moffat County four years ago. “My ties to Craig will remain.”

Tuesday was White’s last day as the director of operations at the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, but he will keep his five children in the Moffat County School District, continue to be active in the Craig community and invested in local health services.

As the new chief financial officer for the Kremmling Memorial Hospital, White will be able to utilize his background in accounting and the wide range of experience he gained from working for the VNA for three years.

“With a background in accounting, I’m hoping that some of my core strengths can be put to use a little bit better,” he said. “It will be more opportunity for more responsibility.”

VNA Chief Executive Officer Sue Birch said the hospital in Kremmling will be lucky to gain his breadth of experience and energy.

“We’re going to miss his high energy level,” Birch said. “And, we’re going to miss his exuberance. We’re going to miss all the networking he created in the community. While we’re happy that he’s found a niche for himself over in Kremmling, we’re really glad he’s not leaving Moffat County.”

Birch said White was instrumental in several programs in the past three years, including implementing new electronic medical records and representing the interests of the VNA and community in the Moffat County Health Services Partnership.

“We really appreciate Cole’s management and leadership,” Birch said. “He has done an incredible job bringing EMR into the health clinic, as well as creating a base for information exchange. He’s done a remarkable job representing Moffat County in regional initiatives.”

In addition to his work at the VNA, White served as the president of the Craig Rotary Club, on the Craig Chamber of Commerce board, and as a member of the Independent Life Center board, which Birch said created an advantage for the VNA.

“He created a lot of mixing between nonprofits and also with the business sector,” Birch said.

White said he was proud of implementing the EMR services but that he was even more satisfied with the staff he hired to carry on the successes of the VNA after he leaves.

Also during his tenure, the clinic inside the VNA was designated a federally qualified community health center, and White was able to utilize federal funds to revamp the billing process and information exchange.

He said he owed most of his success to the knowledgeable and experienced staff that knows health services and the community like the back of their hands, especially the leadership of Birch.

Birch said she was glad to help expose White to the challenges of nonprofit health care and that she knows he will continue to be an asset to regional health services.

In the next few months, Birch said the VNA will look at incorporating some functions of White’s position into other job descriptions and will look at a restructuring of management responsibilities.

She said they do not plan to try and replace White just yet.

“He was an energetic learner,” Birch said. “ His expanded knowledge base with public and community health will serve all health services in our area. I’m glad he was exposed to this, and he will make the region healthier. We are so thankful he contributed so much to Moffat County, Craig and our region.”

Nicole Inglis can be reached at 875-1793 or ninglis@craigdailypress.com.